As Needed Pet Sitter & Dog Walker

Location

Longmont, CO
(Service areas include Longmont, Firestone, Frederick, Fort Lupton, Erie, Dacono, Louisville, Broomfield, Thornton, Westminster, Johnstown, Berthoud, and occasionally Lyons & Windsor.)

Job Type

Contract (Independent Contractor – 1099)

Pay

Sitters retain 70% of each job completed, based on experience and reliability.

• Pay is per job, not hourly.
• This position is best suited for someone seeking supplemental income.
• This is a flexible, as-needed contractor role. Assignments depend entirely on client requests and are not guaranteed.
• Service requests may be booked months in advance or within 1–2 weeks of the start date. There is no fixed schedule or guaranteed number of visits.

Schedule

• As-needed (based on client requests and sitter availability)
• Overnights
• Midday drop-ins
• 24-hour pet care (includes a 4–6 hour rest period during each 24-hour sit)
• Holiday availability is a must
• Occasional Evening meet-and-greets between 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (30–60 min)
• Weekend & evening meet-and-greets occasionally required to accommodate client schedules.
• Dog Walking: ideal applicant has availability between 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Job Summary

Barnhouse Pet Sitting, LLC is a local, family-owned, and growing pet care business serving families across the Longmont and Northern Colorado area. We’re seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and reliable as-needed Pet Sitter & Dog Walker to join our team on an independent contractor basis.

This flexible role is ideal for someone who genuinely loves animals, communicates clearly and professionally, and enjoys meaningful work ensuring pets are safe, happy, and cared for while their families are away.

We are specifically looking for someone with confidence, good judgement, reliability, and the ability to appropriately handle common pet behaviors including:

• Whining
• Pulling on leash
• Jumping
• Barking
• Excitement reactivity
• High-energy behaviors

We do not accept aggressive pets. However, many of our clients have dogs that require patience, structure, consistency, and confident handling skills. This position is not ideal for someone who is overly timid, easily overwhelmed, unreliable, or uncomfortable setting boundaries & instilling training corrections with animals in a safe and humane manner.

Ideal candidates:

• Have strong reliability and time management skills
• Communicate professionally with clients and leadership
• Are calm, patient, and observant under pressure
• Knowledgeable in dog behavior and body language
• Are physically capable of handling medium to large dogs
• Can work independently and think critically in real-world situations
• Follow instructions carefully and maintain professionalism in clients’ homes

Experience with pet care, dog walking, farm animals, and excitement reactive dogs is required. Veterinary/animal care settings is a plus, but willingness to learn, accountability, and professionalism are equally important.

At Barnhouse, we value safety, communication, professionalism, and compassionate care above all else.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-home pet care: feeding, walking, playtime, companionship, and medication administration.
• Care for dogs, cats, and occasionally small pets or farm animals (assignments matched to comfort level).
• For farm care, equine experience and knowledge is required
• Comfortably care for disabled, senior, or special-needs pets (including pets with dementia).
• Maintain cleanliness in pet areas (litter boxes, kennels, feeding stations).
• Monitor pet health and behavior; report concerns promptly to owners and the Barnhouse team.
• Record notes, updates, and photos using Barnhouse’s scheduling software PetPocketbook.
• Represent Barnhouse with professionalism, reliability, and compassion in every client interaction.

Requirements

• Must be 21 years or older.
• Must live within 25 miles of Longmont, CO to care for clients who have overnight or 24 hour care booked.
• Willing to travel up to 25+ miles of service area for pet sitting assignments.
• Must have reliable transportation & use their own vehicle to commute
• Must be available for hot-booking months: June - October including holidays.
• Flexible schedule required — available for overnights, midday drop-ins, 24-hour pet care, and (sometimes) last-minute requests.
• Must have equine experience
• Have strong reliability and communication skills
• Able to accommodate occasional evening meet-and-greets (5:30–6:30 PM) and occasional weekends.
• Clear, kind, professional communication with both pet owners, leadership, and teammates is crucial.
• Ability to perform light to moderate physical activity (walking dogs, cleaning, lifting food bags, cleaning pet waste).
• Dependable, trustworthy, and committed to providing consistent, high-quality care.
• Position is perfect for someone who works from home, doesn't mind travelling, and/or retired looking for some fun with animals!

Dog Walking Responsibilities:

• Structured dog walking using properly fitted harnesses (provided by client)
• Handling dogs that pull
• Monitoring canine body language and stress signals
• Adjusting walks based on environmental and behavioral factors
• Detailed visit documentation with photos
• Securing client homes properly

Dog Walking Requirements:

• Prior professional dog walking, kennel, shelter, or veterinary experience required
• Customer service experience is a must
• Experience handling medium to large breed dogs
• Knowledge of harness types and safe leash handling techniques
• Ability to manage off-leash dog encounters calmly and safely
• Strong situational awareness and environmental judgment
• Reliable vehicle and valid driver’s license
• Smartphone for scheduling and client updates
• Physically able to walk 1 -3+ miles and handle dogs 60+ lbs

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling — choose sits that fit your lifestyle.
• Supplemental income — earn more during holidays.
• Mileage differential if a pet sit falls outside of 25 mile radius (I.e. 30 miles) when travelling from home. This only occurs if we receive a last-minute request and sitter has availability.
• High-demand shift bonuses for holidays and last-minute requests.
• Referral & Recognition Programs for outstanding performance.
• Quarterly Team Meet-Ups — connect and collaborate with fellow sitters.
• Room for growth — take on more clients or leadership opportunities.
• Community connection — build lasting relationships with local families and their pets.
• Meaningful work — make a difference every day by providing compassionate, quality pet care.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: Up to $400.00 per month

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Referral program

Application Question(s):

• What makes you a great fit for the Barnhouse Pet Sitting family?
• Why should pet owners feel confident trusting you with their pets and home?
• What would you do if an off-leash dog approached during a walk?
• What signs tell you a dog is becoming overstimulated or stressed?
• This is an as-needed position with no guaranteed hours. Why is that a good fit for you?
• Describe your experience around horses and livestock.

Experience:

• Pet care: 2 years (Required)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)
• Night Shift (Required)
• Overnight Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Longmont, CO (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 100% (Required)

Work Location: On the road